Sprinkler head



Feb. 2 1926.

O. J. LUBBOCK SPRINKLER HEAD Filed NOV. 26. 1925 05mm J LUBBOCK.

BY M A attmnmp W/TNESS.

Patented Feb. 2, 19.26.

UNITED STATES OSWALD J..LUBBOCK, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

srRIn-KLEn HEAD.

Application filed November To fill whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, OSWALD J. LUBBOOK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Alameda, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Sprinkler Head, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sprinkler heads for use in fire prevention systems, and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a sprinkler head in which the release of the head is accomplished by the rupture of a frangible shell, containing an expansible fluid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sprinkler head of unusual reliability and resistance to mechanical injury.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be'understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my sprinkler head.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of my sprinkler head.

Figures 3 and 4c are horizontal sectional views thru portions of modified forms of my sprinkler head.

Figure 5 is a perspective of another mochfied form of my sprinkler head.

In terms of broad inclusion, the sprinkler head of my invention comprises a cage yoke of such form as to provide the maximum protection for the strut and releasing devices against mechanical injury. The release of the head is effected by the collapse of a strut, normally held in operative position by a frangible shell, disposed between the strut and the yoke. The shell is filled with a fluid capable of breaking the shell upon its expansion at a predetermined temperature, and upon a rupture of the shell, the strut collapses and the sprinkler head releases. Means are provided for adjusting the tension exerted upon the shell, to keep it in place in the strut, and means are also provided for compensating the eifect of 26, 1923. Serial No. 676,927.

changes in temperature upon the members of the strut and yoke, so that expansion'of parts of the strut or yoke, will not prematurely rupture the shell and release the head. In detail, my sprinkler head comprises a block 2, term nating at one end in the nipple 3, adapted to be threaded into the usual pipe connection. The opposite end is formed to provide a nozzle 4, normally closed by the cap 6, between which and the nozzle a soft metal gasket 7, is interposed. Formed on the block 2, is a yoke comprising the arms Sand 9, which forma ring, roughly circular 1n form, and oining in the boss 11, in which the strut ad ustlng screw 12 carrying the deflecting head 13, is threaded. A pin 14 looks the screw 12 in the adjusted position.

Interposed between the cap 6 and the point of the adjusting screw, is a two-piece strut, comprising the two halfrings 16 and 17 One of the half rings is provided with a grooved seat along its diametral edges and the diametral edge of the other half ring is V-shaped, to adapt it for complementary engagement in this seat. The adjusting screw 12 is set so that the strut rings are laterally displaced a small amount, as shown in Figure 2, their line of contact lying'a small distance to one side of the plane passing thru the seats of the strut, in the ad justing screw and cap. Furtherlateral displacement of the strut rings is prevented by a .shell 18, containing a fluid 19, such as carbon tetrachloride, capable of rupturing the shell due to expansion at a predetermined temperature, such for-instance, as 165 Fahrenheit. The interior of the strut ring is slightly beveled. to form a seat for the shell, and the shell is retained in the ring by a threaded stud 21, adjustable the transverse yoke arm 22, extending in sub stantially a semicircular form between the yoke arms 8 and 9. This horizontal yoke arm functions not only to support the stud 21, but also as a protective means for the strut and releasing mechanism, in which latter function it is aided by the yoke arm 23, on the opposite side of the yoke, the two arms 22 and 23 forming substantially a circular ring, lying in a plane at right angles to the plane of the yoke arms 8 and 9.. The yoke arms thus form a protective cage about the strut and shell.

In order to distribute the pressure between the shell 18 and the stud 21, over an appreciable portion of the surface of the shell, a bearing piece 24 is disposed against the shell to transmit the thrust of the stud 21 thereupon. Since expansion of the various parts might produce a pressure on the shell, sutlicient to rupture it, prematurely, I provide means for compensating such pressures Bearing against the bearing piece 24, is a cup 26, formed with a stud 27 thereon, adapted to seatin a corresponding recess in the bearing piece, so that lateral disengagement or" the two parts is prevented. Seated in the edge of the cup is a resilient diaphragm 28, having an apertured center in which the point of the stud 21 seats. It will be noted that this mechanism interposed between the shell and the stud, is capable of su'fiicient universal movement to readily accommodate itself to slight variations in the shell and in the adjustment of the parts, and at the same time, the resilient diaphragm or plate 28 will permita certain come-and-go ofthe parts, without placing a destructive pressure upon the shell.

The shell l8-'and its contents, are so devised and arranged that when the surrounding temperature has passed a predetermined point, expansion of the fluid 19 ruptures the shell, which thereupon falls from the sprinkler head, together with the parts 24, 26 and 28, all of which separate as soon as the shell ruptures. WVith the removal of the shell, the pressure of the water on the cap causes the strut to collapse, the strut parts and cap being thrown clear of the sprinkler head by the rush of water thus released from the nozzle. I

In order tolessen a too intense localizing stress between strut parts andshell, I prefer to form each strut, part with a lining bushing 30 of very soft copper or lead or solder melting at a higher temperature than required to burst the shell, or other suitable material which will flow or conform to the surface olitheshell in some slight degree, suflicient to produce an evenly distributed pressure between the strut parts and the shell; v

The strut parts 16 and 17 are so set that the horizontal component of the thrust exerted by the water upon the cap, is only a very small proportion of the vertical component, so that the breaking stress exerted upon the shell 18, is a small one and well within its limits. The amount of this stress can, of course, be regulated very closely by the adjustment of, the screw 12 to vary the angular relation between the strut parts.

In Figure 3, I have shown a mechanism interposed between the shell 18 and the stud 31, comprising a bearing block 32, formed with a socket adapting it to seat upon the rounded end 33 of the stud. In this case, the yoke arms 3a are designed to embody sufiicient resiliency to prevent undue presother desired. type.

sure being placed on the shell when normal fluctuations of temperature cause expansion and contraction in the sprinkler head parts.

In Figure 4, a bearing block 36 is loosely swivelled upon the end of the stud 37 and is retained thereon during the operation of the sprinkler head.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of my sprinkler head, quite similar to that shown in Figure 1, except that the yoke is formed by three equally spaced arms 41, 4:2 and 43, all extending upwardly from the base as, and forming a cage about the strut. Que of the arms 43 is utilized to hold the stud 46, which may be of a type similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, or of any The operation of this sprinkler head is, of course, the same as that previously explained.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler head having a yoke com-- prising a pair of rings lying in perpendicnlar planes, a strut disposed between opposite sides of one of said rings, and means for preventing the collapse oi the strut impinged againstthe other ring.

2. A sprinkler head comprising an annular collapsible strut for preventing release of the head and a frangible shell containing a material capable of expanding to break the shell and disposed in the strut to prevent, while integral, the collapse of the strut.

3. In a: sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing yoke, a cap on said nozzle, an annular collapsible strut interposed between the cap and the yoke, and a frangible shell containing a material capable of expanding to break the shell interposed within the strut and between the strut and the yoke to prevent the collapse ofthe strut. 4. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing a yoke, a cap in. said nozzle, a collapsible strut interposed between the cap and the yoke and comprising two halfrings, a frangible shell containing. a material capable of expanding to break the shell seated in said half-rings to. prevent their collapse, and means for preventing displacement ofthe integral shell.

5. A sprinkler head comprising a yoke, a collapsible strut arranged in the yoke to prevent the release of the head, a frangible shell containing a material capable of expanding to break the shell and disposed. between the yoke and strut to prevent collapse of the strut, and means for compensating changes in the sizes of the parts due to expansion to prevent premature rupture oi. said shell. v

6. A sprinkler-head comprising a yoke, a collapsible strut arranged in the yoke to prevent the release of. the head, a frangible shell containing a, material capable of ex paneling to break the shell and disposed between the yoke and strut to prevent collapse of the strut, and a resilient plate interposed between the shell and the yoke to permit expansion in the yoke and strut parts without rupturing the shell.

7. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing yoke, a cap in said nozzle, a collapsible strut interposed between the cap and the yoke, a frangible shell containing a material capable of expanding to break the shell interposed between the strut and the yoke to prevent the collapse of the strut, and resilient means interposed between the shell and the yoke to permit expansion in the yoke and strut parts without rupturing the shell.

8. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing yoke, a cap on said nozzle, a pair of half-rings interposed between the cap and the yoke and bearing on each other to one side of a plane passing thru the seats of the rings in the cap and yoke, a frangible shell containing a material capable of expanding to break the shell, and disposed in said half-rings to prevent their lateral collapse, and a stud on said yoke for re taining said shell in position.

9. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing yoke, a cap on said nozzle, a pair of half-rings interposed between the cap and the yoke and bearing on each other to one side of a plane passing thru the seats of the rings in the cap and yoke, a frangible shell containing a material capable of em panding to break the shell, and disposed in said half-rings to prevent their lateral collapse, a stud on said yoke, and a resilient plate interposed between said stud and said shell.

10. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing yoke, a cap on said nozzle, a pair of half-rings interposed between the cap and the yoke and bearing on each other to one side of a plane passing thru the seats of the rings in the cap and yoke, a frangible shell containing a material capable of 'expaneling to break the shell, and disposed in said half-rings to prevent their lateral collapse, and means interposed between said yoke and said shell for retaining the shell in position and comprising an adjustable stud on the yoke, a bearing piece for the shell and a resilient plate interposed between said stud and bearing piece.

11. In a sprinkler head having a nozzle and enclosing a yoke, a cap in said nozzle, a collapsible strut interposed between the cap and the yoke and comprising two halfrings, a frangible shell containing a. material capable of expanding to break the shell seated in said half-rings to prevent their collapse, means for preventing displacement of the integral shell, and a lining of con "t'ormable material on said half-rings neXt to said shell.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto se my hand.

OSWALD J. LUBBOCK. 

